AJC > Sandy Springs > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USChristmas gifts: Try random acts of kindness
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The recycling box on the carport is starting to overflow with colorful flyers offering all manner of “must have” gifts for the holidays. And if I’m not careful I get caught in that retailing undertow that grips us all every year, convincing us that Christmas just isn’t complete until the gift boxes block our view of the tree.
Can I be so bold to suggest that we give the gift this season of random acts of kindness? I thought about this when I ran across a story of a woman who was at a foreclosure auction. She happened to meet a person whose home was being auctioned off and was understandably in tears.
The woman bought the house, and then worked out a deal to allow the former owner to move back in. She put up a portion of her own small business to secure the mortgage. Now it would be great if we all were willing to extend ourselves to that degree for our fellow man, but that isn’t always an option. But there are other ways we can give without making a run to the mall.
When a young child says “watch me” stop and give them 10 minutes of your full attention.
Hold the door open for the person behind you when you’re going into the store. Bake some desserts and drop them off at any fire station around town. Grab that empty soda can that didn’t quite make it into the trash can off the ground. Slow down and let that other driver ease into ahead of you.
Drop your pennies into the change box at the convenience store cash register.
When you drive through the “change” lane at the 400 toll plaza hand over a dollar and pay for the car behind you.
Make some time to visit with the folks at the Dorothy Benson Senior Center off Vernon Woods.
Buy some extra groceries to donate to the food drive every supermarket in town has this time of year.
Pick up those random pieces of trash you see around your neighborhood when you’re walking the dog.
When you sit down for dinner, turn your phone off.
Fill three big boxes of stuff and take it to the Goodwill next to the vacant Target.
Leave a really huge tip for someone who deserves it, but only if you can exit the restaurant before they catch you.
Haul out the lights and give your front yard a good old-fashioned tacky decoration.
I have nothing against giving and I sure love getting — but maybe this year it might make us all feel a little better if we turn it down a notch.
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By Lynn Bird
November 17, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
What a joy it was to read your article on Turn down giving gifts, turn up acts of kindness. Our school, Pinckneyville Middle School is part of the International Baccalaureate Programme in Gwinnett County. Our sixth grade team is using Random Acts of Kindness Everyday as our team’s Community and Service Project. Mr. Gary Neff, our team’s language arts teacher came up with R.A.K.E. as the name of our community and service project. We have had lessons on the importance of helping others, how to be reflective on these acts of kindness, as well as sharing opportunities of these activities in groups. One of our students, Shelly Fisher, brought in your article and showed it to us today. As the Humanities teacher, I truly appreciate the effort you have gone to write about this in your column. Your column confirms the importance of being there for others and helping them when even a small gesture of goodwill helps so much. Teaching children AND adults the joy one receives when you are able to help another is something that needs to be shared again and again. Kindness is something that you give away and you are the winner every single time! The current financial situation has effected many and only by reading columns such as yours puts this all in perspective.
The nice idea behind our RAKE program is that it does not have to be too time consuming. All you need to do is to take a few minutes to help out someone who may need an extra hand whether it is to rake leaves, take trash cans back to someone’s house, or create a hand-made holiday placemat for someone who is unable to get out for the holidays. What we get in return is a huge smile and a great feeling knowing that we have helped someone else. Thank you again for reiterating the importance of giving to others throughout the year. We all need to be mindful of how a very small gesture of kindness can go a long way. Our students have a reflective piece with this project and I can not wait to read how helping others has made a difference in their lives! Lynn Bird IBMYP- Pinckneyville Middle School Sixth Grade